Semiconductor device with FinFET and method of fabricating the same

ABSTRACT

A FinFET semiconductor device has an active region formed of a semiconductor substrate and projecting from a surface of the substrate. A fin having a first projection and a second projection composed of the active region are arranged in parallel and at each side of a central trench formed in a central portion of the active region. Upper surfaces and side surfaces of the first projection and the second projection comprise a channel region. A channel ion implantation layer is provided at a bottom of the central trench and at a lower portion of the fin. A gate oxide layer is provided on the fin. A gate electrode is provided on the gate oxide layer. A source region and a drain region are provided in the active region at sides of the gate electrode. A method of forming such a device is also provided,

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No.10-2005-0030947, filed on Apr. 14, 2005, in the Korean IntellectualProperty Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in itsentirety by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a semiconductor device and a method offabricating the same, and more particularly to a semiconductor devicewith a Fin Field Effect Transistor (FinFET) and a method of fabricatingthe same.

2. Description of the Related Art

Integration density of semiconductor devices continues to increase inorder to improve performance and to reduce manufacturing costs. In orderto increase the integration density, techniques that reduce a featuresizes of semiconductor devices are required. When fabricatingcontemporary semiconductor devices, the channel length of aMetal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor (MOSFET) has beenshortened to enhance the integration density and speed of semiconductordevices. However, the shortened channel length results in short channeleffects that degrade active switch characteristics of the device.Moreover, because of being a planar channel device where channels areformed to be parallel with a surface of a semiconductor substrate, theMOSFET is not only unfavorable for device size reduction but also is notconducive to preventing short channel effects.

Recently introduced FinFET devices have a tri-gate structure in which afin-shaped three-dimensional active region is formed, and a gateelectrode encircles both side surfaces and an upper surface of the fin,thereby forming a channel with a three-dimensional structure instead ofa planar structure. The tri-gate structure has a channel perpendicularto a surface of a substrate to increase the effective channel width,which is different from the planar MOSFET. Therefore, the short channeleffects are mitigated in FINFET devices relative to the short channeleffects of MOSFET devices. FinFET devices are disclosed in, e.g., U.S.Pat. Nos. 6,391,782 and 6,664,582, the disclosures of which areincorporated herein by reference.

As FinFET devices continue to become increasingly integrated, they tooexperience short channel effects. Accordingly, efforts to reduce theshort channel effects are conducted by changing the doping profile of achannel region in the FinFET as in the MOSFET (referred to as “localchannel ion implantation”). However, the conventional local channel ionimplantation approach has a disadvantage in that both the source and thedrain regions are doped as well as the channel region.

When an n-type FinFET is used as an example, the channel region is dopedwith a p-type impurity via local channel ion implantation. In this case,the p-type impurity is doped into a substrate to form a p-type ionimplantation region. If the n-type source and drain are formed in asubsequent process, bottom surfaces of the n-type source and draincontact the p-type ion implantation region in which a source and a drainare formed. If the regions with mutually opposite conductivities meet toform a junction, the junction leakage current of the device canincrease. Therefore, a drawback of the conventional local channel ionimplantation method is that off-leakage current of the resulting devicecan be increased.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a semiconductor device including a FinFETstructure without increasing the off leakage current.

The present invention also provides a method of fabricating asemiconductor device including a FinFET structure without increasing theoff leakage current by improving local channel ion implantation.

In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a FinFETsemiconductor device having an active region formed of a semiconductorsubstrate and projecting from a surface of the substrate. A fin having afirst projection and a second projection composed of the active regionare arranged in parallel and at each side of a central trench formed ina central portion of the active region. Upper surfaces and side surfacesof the first projection and the second projection comprise a channelregion. A channel ion implantation layer is provided at a bottom of thecentral trench and at a lower portion of the fin. A gate oxide layer isprovided on the fin. A gate electrode is provided on the gate oxidelayer. A source region and a drain region are provided in the activeregion at sides of the gate electrode.

In one embodiment, the device further comprises a threshold voltagecontrolling ion implantation layer formed by doping the fin with animpurity of a conductivity type opposite to a conductivity type of animpurity used to dope the channel ion implantation layer, and formed atan upper portion of the fin in the first projection and the secondprojection.

In another embodiment, the device further comprises a device isolatinglayer about the active region at lower side surfaces of the firstprojection and the second projection.

In another embodiment, a width of the gate electrode is equal to orgreater than that of the central trench and wherein the gate extends tocover the upper surfaces and the side surfaces of the first projectionand the second projection.

In another aspect, the present invention is directed to a method offabricating a semiconductor device including forming a dummy gateextending on an active region of a semiconductor substrate. Afterproviding a shielding layer on the dummy gate, the shielding layer isplanarized using the dummy gate as an end point. The dummy gate isselectively removed with respect to the shielding layer, and localchannel ion implantation is performed to form a channel ion implantationlayer within the active region using the shielding layer as an ionimplantation mask. Then, the semiconductor substrate is etched using theshielding layer as an etch mask to form a central trench that exposesthe channel ion implantation layer. A gate oxide layer is interposedwithin the central trench, and a gate electrode is formed on the gateoxide layer. Then, a source region and a drain region are formed in theactive region on both sides of the gate electrode.

In one embodiment, a height of the dummy gate is equal to or greaterthan depths of the source region and the drain region.

In another embodiment, after forming the channel ion implantation layer,the method further comprises: doping an impurity of a conductivity typeopposite that of an impurity of the channel ion implantation layer intoan upper portion of the active region to form a threshold voltagecontrolling ion implantation layer.

In another aspect, the present invention is directed to a method offabricating a semiconductor device comprising: forming an active regionhard mask on a semiconductor substrate; etching the substrate using theactive region hard mask as an etch mask to define an active regionprojecting from a surface of the substrate and to form a trenchencircling the active region; isotropically etching the active regionhard mask to form a hard mask pattern that exposes a top perimeter ofthe active region; filling the trench with a gap fill oxide layer, andplanarizing the gap fill oxide layer using the hard mask pattern as anend point of planarization; forming a line type mask extending on thegap fill oxide layer and the hard mask pattern; patterning the gap filloxide layer and the hard mask pattern using the line type mask as anetch mask to form a dummy pattern including at least one channel regiondefining pattern in a central portion thereof; providing a shieldinglayer on the line type mask, and planarizing the shielding layer usingthe line type mask as an end point of planarization; selectivelyremoving the line type mask and the channel region defining pattern withrespect to the shielding layer to form an opening that exposes a surfaceof the active region; local channel ion implanting via the opening toform a channel ion implantation layer within the active region; etchingthe active region under the opening to form a central trench in aportion of the active region including a fin channel at sides of thecentral trench; recessing the shielding layer and the gap fill oxidelayer to provide a device isolating layer about the active region, andexposing a fin channel that has a first projection and a secondprojection composed of a surface of the substrate arranged in paralleland at each side of the central trench between the central trench andthe device isolating layer, the upper surface regions and side surfaceregions of the first projection and the second projection comprising achannel region; forming a gate oxide layer on the fin; forming a gateelectrode on the gate oxide layer; and forming a source region and adrain region in the active region at both sides of the gate electrodes.

In one embodiment, a sum of a height of the line type mask and a heightof the channel region defining pattern is equal to or greater thandepths of the source and the drain.

In another embodiment, the in the forming of the channel ionimplantation layer, the shielding layer is used as an ion implantationmask.

In another embodiment, a doping energy of the local channel ionimplanting is adjusted to allow impurities other than the impuritiesconstituting the channel ion implantation layer to be doped entirelywithin the shielding layer or to be doped within the shielding layer andan upper surface of the active region.

In another embodiment, after forming the channel ion implantation layer,the method further comprises doping an impurity of a conductivity typeopposite that of the impurity of the channel ion implantation layer intoan upper portion of the active region to form a threshold voltagecontrolling ion implantation layer.

In another embodiment, in the forming of the threshold voltagecontrolling ion implantation layer the shielding layer is used as an ionimplantation mask.

In another embodiment, a doping energy is adjusted to allow impuritiesother than the impurities constituting the threshold voltage controllingion implantation layer to be doped within the shielding layer.

In another embodiment, the active region hard mask comprises siliconnitride, and the isotropic etching is wet etching using H₃PO₄.

In another embodiment, the isotropic etching is one of wet etching anddry etching using plasma.

In another embodiment, the line type mask comprises silicon oxidenitride.

In another embodiment, the shielding layer comprises silicon oxide.

In another embodiment, the shielding layer comprises High DensityPlasma-CVD oxide.

In another embodiment, the device isolating layer is formed to haveindented portions that expose side surfaces of the first projection andthe second projection.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other features and advantages of the present inventionwill become more apparent by describing in detail exemplary embodimentsthereof with reference to the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a layout of a semiconductor device formed by a methodof fabricating a semiconductor device according to first and secondembodiments of the present invention;

FIGS. 2 through 6, FIG. 8, FIG. 9, FIG. 13 and FIG. 15 illustrateintermediary structures for illustrating the method of fabricating asemiconductor device with the layout as illustrated in FIG. 1 accordingto the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along a line VII-VII′ of FIG. 6;

FIGS. 10 through 12 are sectional views taken along a line X-X′ of FIG.9, in which FIGS. 10 and 11 correspond to a structure illustrated inFIG. 9, and FIG. 12 illustrates a step subsequent to FIG. 11;

FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken along a line XIV-XIV′ of FIG. 13;

FIG. 16 is a sectional view taken along the line XVI-XVI′ of FIG. 15,illustrating the structure of FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a sectional view taken along a line XVII-XVII′ of FIG. 15;and

FIGS. 18 through 22 are sectional views illustrating the method offabricating a semiconductor device according to the second embodiment ofthe present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention will be described more fully hereinafter withreference to the accompanying drawings in which preferred embodiments ofthe invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied inmany different forms and should not be construed as being limited to theembodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided sothat this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fullyconvey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. In thedrawings, the forms of elements are exaggerated for clarity. Tofacilitate understanding, identical reference numerals have been used,where possible, to designate identical elements that are common to thefigures.

First Embodiment

FIG. 1 illustrates a layout of a semiconductor device formed by a methodof fabricating a semiconductor device according to first and secondembodiments of the present invention. However, it will be understood bythose of ordinary skill in the art that the layout of the semiconductordevice according to the present invention is not necessarily limited tothat shown in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 1, an active region 20 is defined, and extends in onedirection, e.g., X-direction, and has a predetermined width A1 in aY-direction that is perpendicular to the X-direction. A gate electrode60 extending in the Y-direction is formed on the active region 20. Asource S and a drain D are formed in the active region 20 on both sidesof the gate electrode 60.

Referring to FIGS. 2 through 17, a method of fabricating a semiconductordevice having the layout illustrated in FIG. 1 according to a firstembodiment of the present invention will be described. FIGS. 2 through6, FIG. 8, FIG. 9, FIG. 13 and FIG. 15 illustrate intermediarystructures. FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along a line VII-VII′ ofFIG. 6. FIGS. 10 through 12 are sectional views taken along a line X-X′of FIG. 9, in which FIGS. 10 and 11 correspond to a structureillustrated in FIG. 9, and FIG. 12 illustrates a step subsequent to FIG.11. FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken along a line XIV-XIV′ of FIG. 13.FIG. 16 is a sectional view taken along the line XVI-XVI′ of FIG. 15,corresponding to the structure of FIG. 15.

First, referring to FIG. 2, an active region hard mask 15 is formed on asemiconductor substrate 10 such as a p-type bulk silicon wafer so as todefine the active region 20 as illustrated in FIG. 1. Instead of thesilicon wafer, a Silicon-On-Insulator (SOI) substrate, a SiliconGermanium-On-Insulator (SGOI) substrate or a Silicon Germanium (SiGe)wafer may optionally be used as the silicon substrate 10. When comparedwith an SOI or an SGOI substrate, the bulk silicon substrate caneconomize manufacturing costs and does not have problems such as afloating body effect or lowering of a breakdown voltage between a drainand a source which are liable to occur in the SOI or SGOI MOSFET device.Meantime, the SOI or SGOI substrate prevents a bottom channel fromconducting. Also, the SGOI or SiGe substrate has an advantage ofutilizing a high charge mobility of a substrate material. The activeregion hard mask 15 is formed by depositing an insulating layer such asa silicon nitride layer or a silicon oxide nitride layer on thesubstrate 10 via Plasma Enhanced-Chemical Vapor Deposition (PE-CVD) orLow Pressure-CVD (LPCVD), and is then patterned in a predeterminedshape. The active region hard mask 15 can be composed, for example, ofsilicon nitride. The active region hard mask 15 has a predeterminedlinewidth A1 in the Y-direction and extends in the X-direction. Ifstress is likely to occur between the active region hard mask 15 and thesubstrate 10, an oxide layer may be formed between the active regionhard mask 15 and the substrate 10 by thermal oxidation. Thereafter, thesubstrate 10 is etched using the active region hard mask 15 as an etchmask. In doing so, a trench 18 that defines the active region 20projecting from the surface of the substrate 10 and surrounds the activeregion 20 is formed.

Referring to FIG. 3, the active region hard mask 15 is isotropicallyetched. Thus, a hard mask pattern 15 a smaller than the active regionhard mask 15 is formed, and a marginal surface of the active region 20is exposed. In this case, isotropic etching denotes blanket etching theactive region hard mask 15 without using an etch mask, and can also bereferred to as a pull back procedure. In the case where the activeregion hard mask 15 is composed of silicon nitride, the isotropicetching may be wet etching using H₃PO₄ or dry etching using plasma.Providing that the linewidth in the Y-direction of the hard mask pattern15 a is A1′, a width of a fin that will be used as a channel later isdetermined to be A1-A1′. The smaller the linewidth A1′ of the hard maskpattern 15 a, the larger the fin is. Accordingly, the width of the finis adjusted by controlling the isotropic etching (i.e., pull back) time.

Referring to FIG. 4, the trench 18 is filled with an insulatingmaterial, e.g., a gap fill oxide layer 30, and planarization isperformed using the hard mask pattern 15 a as an end point of theplanarization. The gap fill oxide layer 30 can be deposited using, e.g.,High Density Plasma (HDP)-CVD, and can be planarized by Chemicalmechanical Polishing (CMP) or blanket etching. Ceria slurry may be usedto planarize the gap fill oxide layer 30 when CMP is used.

After depositing an insulating layer such as a silicon oxide nitridelayer on the resultant structure obtained in FIG. 4, photolithography isperformed to form a line type mask 32 extending over the gap fill oxidelayer 30 and the hard mask pattern 15 a as illustrated in FIG. 5. Theline type mask 32 is formed on a portion corresponding to the eventualgate electrode 60 extending in the Y-direction as illustrated in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the gap fill oxide layer 30 and the hardmask pattern 15 a are patterned using the line type mask 32 as an etchmask, thereby forming a dummy pattern 35. At this time, the gap filloxide layer 30 and the hard mask pattern 15 a may be etched under a sameor a similar etch selectivity condition. By forming the dummy pattern35, almost all of the hard mask pattern 15 a is removed, and a singlechannel region defining pattern 15 b is formed on the center of theactive region 20, and the active region 20 is partially exposed underthe dummy pattern 35. Here, the line type mask 32 and the channel regiondefining pattern 15 b are referred to as a dummy gate. The dummy gatecan be made to extend over the active region 20. Furthermore, when thechannel region defining pattern 15 b is composed of a silicon nitridelayer and the line type mask 32 is composed of a silicon oxide nitridelayer, the dummy gate may be formed by combining the silicon nitridelayer and the silicon oxide nitride layer. A sum of the heights of theline type mask 32 and the channel region defining pattern 15 b i.e., aheight of the dummy gate, may be equal to or larger than the depths of asource region and a drain region formed in a subsequent process.

Referring to FIG. 8, a shielding layer 40 such as a silicon oxide layeris deposited on the line type mask 32 of FIG. 6, and is planarized usingthe line type mask 32 as an end point of planarization. The shield layer40 can be deposited using, for example, HDP-CVD when depositing the gapfill oxide layer 30. When planarizing the shielding layer 40, CMP orblanket etching suitable for planarizing the gap fill oxide layer 30 canbe employed. Because the shielding layer 40 and the gap fill oxide layer30 are composed of a similar or of the same kind of oxide layer, nointerface may actually exist between the two layers. However, a virtualinterfacial position is denoted by a line in the figures for assistingunderstanding of the present invention.

The present invention is characterized by forming the shielding layer 40without removing the line type mask 32 used when patterning the channelregion defining pattern 15 b. Since the shielding layer 40 can be formedto be relatively thick using this method, an implanted depth of animpurity doped in the active region 20 corresponding to the source anddrain regions is reduced during subsequent local channel ionimplantation. Therefore, an ion doped region that is exclusive of thechannel ion implantation layer can remain on the surface of the activeregion 20 or in the shielding layer 40.

Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, the line type mask 32 and the channelregion defining pattern 15 b are removed with a high selectivity to theshielding layer 40 via wet or dry etching, thereby forming an opening 45that exposes a surface of the active region 20. If the line type mask 32is composed of a silicon oxide nitride layer and the channel regiondefining pattern 15 b is composed of a silicon nitride layer, phosphoricacid stripping may be used when the line type mask 32 and the channelregion defining pattern 15 b are removed by wet etching. By doing so,the opening 45 is formed where the channel region defining pattern 15 bis disposed, and an underlying surface of the substrate 10, i.e., thesurface of the active region 20, is partially exposed.

Referring to FIG. 11, p-type impurity local channel ion implantation I1is performed via the opening 45 to form a p-type channel ionimplantation layer 47 within the active region 20. In this case, theshielding layer 40 is used as an ion implantation mask. The gap filloxide layer 30 may be used as the ion implantation mask together withthe shielding layer 40. Also, local channel ion implantation I1 isperformed in a direction that is perpendicular to the substrate 10, andnot at an inclined angle. In the present invention, since the shieldinglayer 40 is formed without removing the line type mask 32, the shieldinglayer 40 is relatively thick. Accordingly, by adjusting the dopingenergy of the local channel ion implantation I1, impurities injectedthrough the shielding layer 40, i.e., impurities that are exclusive ofthe impurities that form the channel ion implantation layer 47, aretransported into the shielding layer 40 or in the surface of the activeregion 20, while forming the channel ion implantation layer 47 with theimpurities transported through the opening 45. As shown in the drawings,the impurities exclusive of the impurities that constitute the channelion implantation layer 47 form a p-type ion implantation region 48within the shielding layer 40.

If the p-type ion implantation region 48 is formed entirely within theshielding layer 40, the p-type ion implantation region 48 is removedaltogether during removal of the shielding layer 40 in a subsequentprocess. Therefore, there is no danger of the p-type ion implantationcontacting a subsequently formed n-type source and drain of the activeregion. On the other hand, if the p-type ion implantation region 48 isformed in the surface of the active region 20, the p-type ionimplantation region 48 is encompassed by the subsequently formed n-typesource and drain regions. As described above, due to the height of theshielding layer that is present during p-type ion implantation, thep-type ion implantation region 48 exclusive of the channel ionimplantation layer 47 avoids contact with bottom surfaces of thesubsequently formed source and drain of opposite conductivity type, butcan be included in the source and the drain. Consequently, by avoidingcontact with bottom surfaces of the source and drain, undesired increaseof the off leakage current caused by the local channel ion implantationis mitigated or eliminated.

Referring to FIG. 12, the active region 20 under the opening 45 isetched using the shielding layer 40 and the gap fill oxide layer 30 asetch masks to form a central trench 22, thereby defining a portion ofthe active region 20 which is to be used as a fin channel. The centraltrench 22 is formed to expose the channel ion implantation layer 47. Asmentioned above, a width of the resulting fin is determined by adifference between the width A1 of the active region 20 in theY-direction and the width A1′ of the hard mask pattern 15 a in theY-direction, i.e., a difference A1-A1′ between the width A1 of theactive region hard mask 15 in the Y-direction and the width A1′ of thechannel region defining pattern 15 b in the Y-direction.

Referring to FIGS. 13 and 14, the shielding layer 40 is removed and thegap fill oxide layer 30 is recessed. HF diluted solution or BufferedOxide Etchant (BOE) solution may be used to recess the shielding layer40 and the gap fill oxide layer 30 by wet etching. A device isolatinglayer 30 a is formed around the active region 20 exposed by therecessing step.

Referring to FIG. 14, a first projection 23 and a second projection 24composed of the substrate 10 between the central trench 22 and thedevice isolating region 30 a in the active region 20 are exposed. Theupper surfaces and the side surfaces of the first projection 23 and thesecond projection 24 provide a three-dimensionally structured channelregion, and are parallel with each other by centering about the centraltrench 22. Because recessing is carried out under the condition that thesurfaces of the stacked layers consisting of the shielding layer 40 andthe gap fill oxide layer 30 are stepped as illustrated in FIG. 9, thedevice isolating layer 30 a that is the final resultant structure mayhave indented portions 30 b that expose the side surfaces of the firstprojection 23 and the second projection 24 as illustrated in FIG. 13.

Referring to FIGS. 15 through 17, a gate oxide layer 50 is formed to athickness of 10 Å to 70 Å on the active region 20. The gate oxide layer50 can be formed, for example, by growing a silicon oxide layer viathermal oxidation. Alternatively, an insulating material layer, e.g., asilicon oxide layer, a hafnium oxide layer, a zirconium oxide layer oran aluminum oxide layer, may be deposited or coated by Atomic LayerDeposition (ALD), CVD, Plasma Enhanced-ALD (PE-ALD) or PE-CVD.Thereafter, a gate electrode 60 extending in the Y-directioncorresponding to the gate electrode 60 of FIG. 1 is formed on the gateoxide layer 50. The gate electrode 60 is composed of a doped polysiliconlayer that is patterned to extend in the Y-direction. Here, the gateelectrode 60 has a width equal to or greater than that of the centraltrench 22, and traverses the channel region while covering the uppersurfaces and the side surfaces of the first projection 23 and the secondprojection 24. The dimension of the central trench 22 is determined bythe dimension of the opening 45. In turn, the dimension of the opening45 is determined by the dimension of the channel region defining pattern15 b. Accordingly, in order to increase the resulting respective areasof the source and the drain, the channel region defining pattern 15 bshould be as small as possible.

Subsequently, a gate spacer 65 is formed on the sidewalls of the gateelectrode 60. The gate spacer 65 may be composed of a silicon nitridelayer. When thermal treatment is performed after n-type source/drain ionimplantation is performed by self-alignment using the gate electrode 60and the gate spacer 65, a source S and a drain D are formed in theactive region 20 on both sides of the gate electrode 60. The source Sand the drain D regions may be of a Lightly Doped Drain (LDD) type. Inthis case, the source S and drain D regions are formed using a highdensity ion implanting (range of between E12/cm²˜E15/cm²).

In the present invention as described above, the shielding layer 40 isformed without removing the line type mask 32 used for patterning thechannel region defining pattern 15 b, and the resulting shielding layer40 is relatively thick. In addition, the doping energy of the localchannel ion implanting I1 (see FIG. 11) is adjusted to allow theimpurities that penetrate the active region 20 via the opening 45 toform the p-type channel ion implantation layer 47 and to allow theremaining impurity to form the ion implantation regions 48 within theshielding layer 40. Because the p-type ion implantation regions 48 areremoved together with the removal of the shielding layer 40 duringsubsequent processing, there is no danger of such regions 48 coming incontact with the subsequently formed source and drain regions. Thep-type ion implantation regions 48 can be formed deep enough in theshielding layer 40 to penetrate the surface of the active region 20. Inthis case, the p-type ion implantation regions 48 are included in topportions of the subsequently formed source and drain regions. In thiscase, however, because of the thickness of the shielding layer 40present when the p-type ion implantation regions 48 are formed duringformation of the channel ion implantation layer 47, the p-type ionimplantation regions 48 neither contact the bottom surfaces of thesource and the drain of opposite conductivity type nor do they increasethe off leakage current of the device.

As illustrated in FIGS. 15 through 17, the resulting semiconductordevice includes the semiconductor substrate 10, and the active region 20formed on the semiconductor substrate 10 which projects from the surfaceof the substrate 10. The fins that include the first projection 23 andthe second projection 24 composed of the substrate 10 are substantiallycentered about the central trench 22 and parallel with each other andare defined in the active region 20 of the substrate. The upper surfacesand the side surfaces of the first and second projections 23 and 24 areused as the channel regions of the device. The channel ion implantationlayer 47 is formed in the lower portion of the fin at the bottom of thecentral trench 22. The gate electrode 60 is formed on the fin and thegate oxide layer 50 is interposed therebetween, and the source S and thedrain D are formed in the active region 20 on both sides of the gateelectrode 60. The device isolating layer 30 a around the active region20 includes the indented portions 30 b (see FIG. 13) that expose theside surfaces of the first projection 23 and the second projection 24.The gate electrode 60 has a width that is equal to or greater than thewidth of the central trench 22 and extends to cover the upper surfacesand the side surfaces of the first projection 23 and the secondprojection 24. Because the channel ion implantation layer 47 is formedin the lower portion of the fin, the short channel effect can be reducedin the device. Moreover, there is no ion implantation region of oppositeconductivity type contacting the bottom surfaces of the source S and thedrain D regions, so that the off leakage current is not increased.

Second Embodiment

FIGS. 18 through 22 are sectional views illustrating a method offabricating the semiconductor device according to the second embodimentof the present invention, which correspond to the section taken alongline XVIII-XVIII′ of FIG. 9. Reference numerals in FIG. 18 are similarto elements in FIGS. 2 through 17, and thus their descriptions will beomitted.

The structures illustrated with reference to FIGS. 2 through 10 areidentical to those of the first embodiment. The structure illustrated inFIG. 18 corresponds to structures illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10, and ispresented for reference.

Referring to FIG. 19, the channel ion implantation layer 47 is formed inthe active region 20 by local channel ion implanting via the opening 45.In this case, the shielding layer 40 (not shown due to the sectionalposition) is used as an ion implantation mask. Further to the shieldinglayer, the gap fill oxide layer 30 may be used as the ion implantationmask. Thereafter, an impurity of conductivity type opposite to that ofthe impurity of the channel ion implantation layer 47 is doped into theupper portion of the active region 20, thereby forming a thresholdvoltage controlling ion implantation layer 49. This is referred to ascounter doping.

When forming the threshold voltage controlling ion implantation layer49, the unshown shielding layer 40 is used as the ion implantation mask.Otherwise, the shielding layer 40 (not shown) and the gap fill oxidelayer 30 are used as the ion implantation masks. The doping energy ispreferably adjusted so as to allow an impurity exclusive of the impuritythat constitutes the threshold voltage controlling ion implantationlayer 49 to be doped within the shielding layer 40 or the gap fill oxidelayer 30.

Referring to FIG. 20, the portion that will be used as the fin channelis defined by etching the active region 20 under the opening 45 usingthe shielding layer 40 (not shown) and the gap fill oxide layer 30 asetch masks to form the central trench 22. The central trench 22 isformed to expose the channel ion implantation layer 47.

The shielding layer 40 and the gap fill oxide layer 30 recessed to formthe device isolating layer 30 a around the active region 20 as describedwith reference to FIGS. 13 and 14 are illustrated in FIG. 21. AlthoughFIG. 21 is similar to FIG. 14, the threshold voltage controlling ionimplantation layer 49 is further included on the upper portion of thefin in FIG. 21.

FIG. 22 illustrates the resultant device structure having the gate oxidelayer 50, the gate electrode 60 and the source and the drain (not showndue to the sectional position) as illustrated in FIGS. 15 through 17. Inthe current embodiment, the channel ion implantation layer 47 is formedin the lower portion of the fin, and the threshold voltage controllingion implantation layer 49 of opposite conductivity type is formed in theupper portion of the fin, thereby lowering the threshold voltage of thedevice. In particular, since no ion implantation regions of oppositeconductivity type formed during the formation the channel ionimplantation layer 47 in the lower portion of the fin are in contactwith the bottom surfaces of the source and drain regions, the thresholdvoltage of the device can be lowered without increasing the off leakagecurrent, in contrast with the conventional approach.

As illustrated in FIG. 22, the semiconductor device according to thesecond embodiment is formed using the structure of the first embodiment,and further includes the threshold voltage controlling ion implantationlayer 49 that is doped with the impurities of a conductivity type thatare opposite to that of the impurities of the channel ion implantationlayer 47. Also, the threshold voltage controlling ion implantation layer49 is disposed on the upper portion of the fin corresponding to thefirst projection 23 and the second projection 24.

In the present invention as described above, a central trench is formedwithin an active region to form a channel with a three-dimensionalstructure. Thus, device operating speed is increased.

Also, an active region hard mask is isotropically etched to be used as apattern that defines a channel region. Therefore, a process ofseparately coating or depositing a material for forming the channelregion defining pattern can be omitted to simplify the fabricatingprocess and to reduce manufacturing costs.

Furthermore, since a shielding layer is formed under a condition that aline type mask used for patterning the channel region defining patternis not removed, the shielding layer is thick. Accordingly, by adjustingthe doping energy of the local channel ion implantation, the impuritydoped via the opening constitutes the channel ion implantation layerwhile the remaining impurities constitute ion implantation regions thatare formed within the shielding layer or on the surface of the activeregion. The resulting ion implantation regions either do not come incontact with a subsequently formed source and drain or do not contactbottom portions or surfaces of the source and the drain. Thus, the offleakage current of the device is not increased.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and describedwith reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understoodby those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form anddetails may be made herein without departing from the spirit and scopeof the present invention as defined by the following claims.

1. A semiconductor device comprising: an active region formed of asemiconductor substrate and projecting from a surface of the substrate;a fin having a first projection and a second projection composed of theactive region arranged in parallel and at each side of a central trenchformed in a central portion of the active region, upper surfaces andside surfaces of the first projection and the second projectioncomprising a channel region; a channel ion implantation layer at abottom of the central trench and at a lower portion of the fin; a gateoxide layer on the fin; a gate electrode on the gate oxide layer; and asource region and a drain region in the active region at sides of thegate electrode.
 2. The semiconductor device of claim 1, furthercomprising a threshold voltage controlling ion implantation layer formedby doping the fin with an impurity of a conductivity type opposite to aconductivity type of an impurity used to dope the channel ionimplantation layer, and formed at an upper portion of the fin in thefirst projection and the second projection.
 3. The semiconductor deviceof claim 1, further comprising a device isolating layer about the activeregion at lower side surfaces of the first projection and the secondprojection.
 4. The semiconductor device of claim 1, wherein a width ofthe gate electrode is equal to or greater than that of the centraltrench and wherein the gate extends to cover the upper surfaces and theside surfaces of the first projection and the second projection.
 5. Amethod of fabricating a semiconductor device comprising: forming a dummygate extending on an active region of a semiconductor substrate;providing a shielding layer on the dummy gate, and planarizing theshielding layer using the dummy gate as an end point of planarization;selectively removing the dummy gate with respect to the shielding layer;performing local channel ion implantation to form a channel ionimplantation layer within the active region using the shielding layer asan ion implantation mask; etching the semiconductor substrate using theshielding layer as an etch mask to form a central trench that exposesthe channel ion implantation layer; recessing the shielding layer;depositing a gate oxide layer in the central trench; forming a gateelectrode on the gate oxide layer; and forming a source region and adrain region in the active region at both sides of the gate electrode.6. The method of claim 5, wherein a height of the dummy gate is equal toor greater than depths of the source region and the drain region.
 7. Themethod of claim 5, after forming the channel ion implantation layer,further comprising: doping an impurity of a conductivity type oppositethat of an impurity of the channel ion implantation layer into an upperportion of the active region to form a threshold voltage controlling ionimplantation layer.
 8. A method of fabricating a semiconductor devicecomprising: forming an active region hard mask on a semiconductorsubstrate; etching the substrate using the active region hard mask as anetch mask to define an active region projecting from a surface of thesubstrate and to form a trench encircling the active region;isotropically etching the active region hard mask to form a hard maskpattern that exposes a top perimeter of the active region; filling thetrench with a gap fill oxide layer, and planarizing the gap fill oxidelayer using the hard mask pattern as an end point of planarization;forming a line type mask extending on the gap fill oxide layer and thehard mask pattern; patterning the gap fill oxide layer and the hard maskpattern using the line type mask as an etch mask to form a dummy patternincluding at least one channel region defining pattern in a centralportion thereof; providing a shielding layer on the line type mask, andplanarizing the shielding layer using the line type mask as an end pointof planarization; selectively removing the line type mask and thechannel region defining pattern with respect to the shielding layer toform an opening that exposes a surface of the active region; localchannel ion implanting via the opening to form a channel ionimplantation layer within the active region; etching the active regionunder the opening to form a central trench in a portion of the activeregion including a fin channel at sides of the central trench; recessingthe shielding layer and the gap fill oxide layer to provide a deviceisolating layer about the active region, and exposing a fin channel thathas a first projection and a second projection composed of a surface ofthe substrate arranged in parallel and at each side of the centraltrench between the central trench and the device isolating layer, theupper surface regions and side surface regions of the first projectionand the second projection comprising a channel region; forming a gateoxide layer on the fin; forming a gate electrode on the gate oxidelayer; and forming a source region and a drain region in the activeregion at both sides of the gate electrodes.
 9. The method of claim 8,wherein a sum of a height of the line type mask and a height of thechannel region defining pattern is equal to or greater than depths ofthe source and the drain.
 10. The method of claim 8, wherein in theforming of the channel ion implantation layer, the shielding layer isused as an ion implantation mask.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein adoping energy of the local channel ion implanting is adjusted to allowimpurities other than the impurities constituting the channel ionimplantation layer to be doped entirely within the shielding layer or tobe doped within the shielding layer and an upper surface of the activeregion.
 12. The method of claim 8, after forming the channel ionimplantation layer, further comprising doping an impurity of aconductivity type opposite that of the impurity of the channel ionimplantation layer into an upper portion of the active region to form athreshold voltage controlling ion implantation layer.
 13. The method ofclaim 12, wherein in the forming of the threshold voltage controllingion implantation layer the shielding layer is used as an ionimplantation mask.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein a doping energyis adjusted to allow impurities other than the impurities constitutingthe threshold voltage controlling ion implantation layer to be dopedwithin the shielding layer.
 15. The method of claim 8, wherein theactive region hard mask comprises silicon nitride, and the isotropicetching is wet etching using H₃PO₄.
 16. The method of claim 8, whereinthe isotropic etching is one of wet etching and dry etching usingplasma.
 17. The method of claim 8, wherein the line type mask comprisessilicon oxide nitride.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the shieldinglayer comprises silicon oxide.
 19. The method of claim 8, wherein theshielding layer comprises High Density Plasma-CVD oxide.
 20. The methodof claim 8, wherein the device isolating layer is formed to haveindented portions that expose side surfaces of the first projection andthe second projection.